How powerful is a PRAYER?

[John VN]

I find that I need to pray for strength to accept God's will for me. As far as guidance, that's more of a hope that God will help me make the right decisions. I don't sit there and wait for God to make decisions for me, I pray about them and then make them myself and I'm responsible for the consequences of my actions. It's more of a partnership in my view when it comes to that kind of thing.

I have heard and read others saying this and it makes me wonder if they thus feel that their faith in God's plan or will for them is not of sufficient strength for them to accept what might happen even if they didn't pray?

 

[orljustin]

You don't get eternal life through good deeds. See post #276. I serve others because I love Jesus. It's a response of gratitude for what He did for me.

Sorry, who are you serving?

 

[Aidensmom]

What I don't understand is why you feel that you must pray for strength, guidance and to accept God's will when in the prayer it states, "his will be done." I would think this means whether you pray or not.

Do you not have enough faith in yourself to summon the strength or guide you where you think you must head or to accept what comes or does not come to you?

I am not sure what you mean by the "the prayer" part I bolded. It makes it sound, to me at least, like there is only one true prayer.

Speaking for myself, I pray for strength and guidance because I am not perfect, some things are difficult for me, and I don't know everything. I also look to other people, such as my mother or husband or boss, for guidance on some situations, I don't really see the difference. I believe the concept of free will, as do most Christians, which means that though I may feel I know God's will, I can choose not to do it. If His will was just "done", there would be no choice on our part.

 

[John VN]

I pray because I want to. It's really just that simple for me personally.

I suppose that some may view people that pray as weak and needing "something" to lean on. Maybe. I've tried it both ways. I'm a strong-willed person and there have been moments when I've said, "Screw you, God" and turned away. I won't say that I failed in life during those times, but my personal relationship with God is very complex. I love Him and I feel loved by Him, and it's comforting when I reach out and feel Him closer. I don't expect this to make sense to someone who has never experienced it.

I feel that there is never a need to reach out for one's self because...Footprints in the Sand, can't get much closer than that.

 

[freckles and boo]

You don't get eternal life through good deeds. See post #276. I serve others because I love Jesus.

Says the bible. I don't believe the bible is the ultimate authority nor (even if I believed in God) the literal word of God. It is a book written and edited by fallible men with great political motivation over large periods of time. Much of the editing was done to achieve very specific goals. Quoting the bible doesn't work for me. For every quote used to support one position a quote can be found to dispute it.

I don't serve others because I love Jesus. I serve others because I love people. By the way, wasn't that Christ's message anyway? Love your neighbor as yourself? Just asking, because I am not well versed in "scripture". I serve others because it makes them happy. It lightens their load. It makes the world a better place. It makes me feel useful. It gives me hope that one day, when I am in need, someone will help me. I serve others because it is the compassionate and right thing to do. It makes me a better person. I don't need the bible to tell me these things because it is knowledge I have as human being living on this planet with other human beings. We are social and we need each other. So if my good deeds don't get me eternal life, I can accept that. As someone else said, I won't have regrets because I will have done my level best. If that isn't enough, I don't want the kind of God that will make me grovel anyway.

 

[John VN]

I am not sure what you mean by the "the prayer" part I bolded. It makes it sound, to me at least, like there is only one true prayer.

Speaking for myself, I pray for strength and guidance because I am not perfect, some things are difficult for me, and I don't know everything. I also look to other people, such as my mother or husband or boss, for guidance on some situations, I don't really see the difference. I believe the concept of free will, as do most Christians, which means that though I may feel I know God's will, I can choose not to do it. If His will was just "done", there would be no choice on our part.

I believe many know it as "The Lord's Prayer".

 

[Aidensmom]

I have heard and read others saying this and it makes me wonder if they thus feel that their faith in God's plan or will for them is not of sufficient strength for them to accept what might happen even if they didn't pray?

I believe "God's will" does not mean God is controlling everything that happens. God's will is carried out through people who choose to do it. If I didn't pray, I wouldn't know what that will was. To me, praying for strength to accept God's will means having the wherewithall to do something rather than choosing an easier alternative. That doesn't mean I think everything that is God's will is hard to do, but I think some is, and that is where I need strength. Some decisions are just hard.

 

[phillybeth]

Without Jesus and being saved after you die, what is the alternative? Eternal nothingness? Or even worse eternal damnation? Those are not a very happy alternatives IMO.

Without hell, there can be no heaven.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

If feel that there is never a need to reach out for one's self because...Footprints in the Sand, can't get much closer than that.

That poem is open to interpretation and to me it represents that God never abandons me, regardless of what I choose.

 

[Aidensmom]

I believe many know it as "The Lord's Prayer".

My understanding is that The Lord's Prayer is just one example of a prayer, and I would interpret the part about asking that God's will be done to mean that people have the strength to do so, as explained in my previous post.

 

[phillybeth]

I believe many know it as "The Lord's Prayer".

And that is the only way to pray?

 

[Fitswimmer]

I believe "God's will" does not mean God is controlling everything that happens. God's will is carried out through people who choose to do it. If I didn't pray, I wouldn't know what that will was. To me, praying for strength to accept God's will means having the wherewithall to do something rather than choosing an easier alternative. That doesn't mean I think everything that is God's will is hard to do, but I think some is, and that is where I need strength. Some decisions are just hard.

 

[John VN]

And that is the only way to pray?

By no means. Just mentioning a few words in 1 prayer that many people know and say every Sunday in church and daily.

 

[John VN]

My understanding is that The Lord's Prayer is just one example of a prayer, and I would interpret the part about asking that God's will be done to mean that people have the strength to do so, as explained in my previous post.

I would not interpret the words that way, meaning asking. I see no question being asked.

 

[jimmiej]

Sorry, who are you serving?

Maybe this will explain it better.

Matthew 25

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

 

[Fitswimmer]

Maybe this will explain it better.

Matthew 25

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

True, but if someone is doing all those things just because they feel it's the right thing to do and not because of the Bible-it doesn't make their effort any less valuable. Whether you serve others because you see God in them or you serve others because you see a need that you can fill doesn't matter.

 

[rockbottomsound]

Ok, so what I get, is you don't really like living here, but you're biding your time, following a set of rules you've been given that promises you something better, hoping that "there" is better than "here".

What's the alternative? You're dead. You cease functioning. You lose consciousness forever. Why does something have to happen?

You shouldn't be banking on an afterlife, to the detriment of your life here, imo. That's a pretty sad way to spend 80 years. Just waiting to die.

I'm not. Its not like I get up everyday and say, well gosh darn it, I really wish I could shag that women and commit adultry today, but I can't 'cause God doesn't want me too, or darn, I would really love to steal that lady's purse but I can't 'cause God doesn't want me too.

At most I probably watch my language more when I have an urge to curse when I'm upset about something, but otherwise, I don't find myself having to constantly alter my lifestyle to follow the rules. I want to live my life like I do, its not like I'm feeling like I'm missing out on something. I have partaken in most of what this life has to offer, and it doesn't do it for me. Living a good Christian pure life on the other hand does. (Not that I'm pure, but that is at least how I try and lead my life.)

 

[rockbottomsound]

I'm going to disagree with this. As you correctly state, we cannot be perfect. We're all sinners. There's nothing I can do (on my own) to make myself worthy to God. That's why Jesus came. God heaped all our sin on Him as He died on the cross. We can now be re-united to God because our sin penalty has been paid.

Mark 16:16

16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.

I agree, hope I didn't sound like I didn't.

 

[jimmiej]

Says the bible. I don't believe the bible is the ultimate authority nor (even if I believed in God) the literal word of God. It is a book written and edited by fallible men with great political motivation over large periods of time. Much of the editing was done to achieve very specific goals. Quoting the bible doesn't work for me. For every quote used to support one position a quote can be found to dispute it.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that.

I don't serve others because I love Jesus. I serve others because I love people. By the way, wasn't that Christ's message anyway? Love your neighbor as yourself? Just asking, because I am not well versed in "scripture".

See my previous post for my answer to your question.

I serve others because it makes them happy. It lightens their load. It makes the world a better place. It makes me feel useful. It gives me hope that one day, when I am in need, someone will help me. I serve others because it is the compassionate and right thing to do. It makes me a better person.

Well stated. I will agree with that.

I don't need the bible to tell me these things because it is knowledge I have as human being living on this planet with other human beings. We are social and we need each other.

I believe God created all of us & put His laws in our heart & mind. That's why we understand the need to help others.

So if my good deeds don't get me eternal life, I can accept that. As someone else said, I won't have regrets because I will have done my level best. If that isn't enough, I don't want the kind of God that will make me grovel anyway.

To be clear, grovel is your word, not mine. The Bible says nothing about groveling, begging, or anything similiar.

Honest question(s). How good does one have to be to earn eternal life? Does a murderer have any chance? How about an adulterer?

 

[jimmiej]

I agree, hope I didn't sound like I didn't.

Sorry. I misunderstood your post.